Marcos lists tackling inflation as priority

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr marked his third year in office by emphasizing his administration's moves toward combating inflation, poverty and joblessness, the key concerns of most Filipinos, and also a ban on offshore gaming operators.

"The hard lesson of this last year has made it very clear that whatever current data proudly bannering our country as among the best-performing in Asia, means nothing to a Filipino, who is confronted by the price of rice at 45 to 65 pesos ($0.77 to $1.11) per kilo," Marcos said in his State of the Nation Address delivered on Monday.

Rice is a staple food in the Philippines, and it became the world's largest rice importer in 2023. Marcos said the government will strive to curb food price increases by boosting production, and providing seeds and post-harvest facilities to farmers.